Chamblesses in the Civil War

THE CIVIL WAR

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861 with the shelling of Fort Sumpter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. It ended on April 9, 1865 with the surrender by General Robert E. Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. More Americans were killed in this war than any war that the United States has ever fought. Approximately 1,000,000 men were either killed or wounded during this long four years of conflict. There were approximately 530,000 men soldiers who died or were killed during this war, more of them from disease, than was killed on the battlefields. Approximately 140,000 Union soldiers were killed in battle and approximately 225,000 died from disease. The Confederacy suffered approximately 75,000 soldiers killed in battle and about 90,000 died from disease. The Union and the Confederacy together suffered approximately 500,000 wounded.
Historians have written many versions as to why the Civil War was fought but have never come to a general agreement. In the 1850’s there was continuous quarrelling between the different sections of the United States. The South wanted to be left alone and vigorously resisted measures that they felt would strengthen the National government. The West wanted free farms and roads. The North wanted a protective tariff for its industries. Slavery questions was in each of these measures and the different sections of the United States could not reach an agreement that was agreed on by all parties.

As the settlers from the North and South began to move into the western territories the slavery issue became more controversial as the people were divided on slavery in the new territories. In 1854, Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois pushed a bill through Congress (The Kansas-Nebraska Act) that would allow new territories to decide for them selves the slavery question. This made slavery legally possible in two territories from which it had been barred. Public opinion in the North ran strongly against this new law. This caused the Whig Party to break up and in its place appeared a new political party, the New Republican, which Abraham Lincoln soon joined. Supporters and Opponents of slavery began to pour into Kansas, causing armed conflicts to flare up. Much of the violence was generated from the rough frontier spirit, but many people from the North felt that the South wanted to force slavery into the territories. The United States Supreme Court entered into the dispute in 1857 with a ruling that would later become known as the Dred Scott Decision. The case involved a slave who had claimed freedom by being taken into a territory where slavery was illegal. The decision was that Congress could not exclude slavery from the territories.

Many southern leaders had urged Secession from the Union if Abraham Lincoln should win the election for the President of the United States. They contended that the national government was a league of sovereign states and that any state had the right to withdraw from the Union. South Carolina, who had always supported States Rights, had threatened to secede in 1832 over national tariffs. South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in December 1860. By the time Lincoln was sworn into office in March of 1861, six other states had followed South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Later on Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas had joined the secession. Kentucky and Missouri set up their own state governments, but supported the Confederacy.

The issue is still being discussed and argued today that Slavery was the cause of the Civil War. In Lincoln’s inaugural address he did not stress force against the South nor declare to abolish slavery, but stated that he felt secession was illegal and he would hold Federal possessions in the South, which included Fort Sumpter. In April 1861 he sent additional forces to Fort Sumpter and the South fired on Fort Sumpter, forcing the garrison to surrender. On April 15, 1861, Lincoln called for federal troops to enforce the Nation’s laws and the South considered this a declaration of War. If Slavery was the only reason for the war, why did President Lincoln wait until September 22, 1862 to issue his speech, later known as the Emancipation Proclamation. The war was going badly for the north so Lincoln decided the Union had better change their tactics or lose the war. In his Proclamation on September 22, 1862, President Lincoln announced that unless the rebelling states returned to the Union by January 1, 1863 he would issue a proclamation freeing their slaves. This Proclamation did not include the border states, which were not in rebellion against the Union. We must ask ourselves, if slavery was the only reason for the Civil War, why weren’t the slaves in the North and in the border states freed at this time? In the same speech President Lincoln announced his decision to use Negro Troops for the Union Army. Up until this time the war, the white Northerners said the Civil War was a white man’s war and that Negroes would make poor soldiers.

Negroes were allowed into the Union Army in late 1862 but were treated as second-rate citizens. They served in all black regiments, led mostly by White officers. Only about 100 blacks became officers. The Negro soldiers were only paid one half the salary of the whites, with no bounties, and if they protested for equal pay, they were either shot of jailed. Finally in 1864 Congress passed a bill giving them equal pay and bounties with the white soldiers. Blacks fought in approximately 190 battles during the remainder of the war, resulting with about 68,000 wounded or killed.

In this war, as most of the wars that have been fought throughout history, it was mainly about power and politics. We have to ask ourselves, “Were all these young men that were killed, wounded, died of disease, or away from their homes for so many months for or against slavery”? “Were they for or against States Rights”? The vast majority were probably just like you and I today, highly patriotic, wanting to support our country where we live, trusting the leadership to guide and make the right decisions. Many of the young men on both sides probably had no strong feelings either way and probably did not fully realize what they were fighting for.

We need to look deep into our souls and ask, “What if the South had won the war”? “Would we be the great nation that we are today or would we be several smaller nations like the countries in Europe”? We could possibly be under foreign rule, because we might not have had the strength and power to withstand World War I and World War II, had this country not been a United Nation.

There are many today, both white and black, that want to continue to use the slavery issue to justify their prejudice. I agree from the bottom of my heart that slavery is evil and wrong, that no man has the right to own another human being. We must remember however, that no American took their slaves by force. They were sold or traded to the white man by their own people. They were captives taken from other tribes during wars and were slaves to their own race prior to being sold to the white race. This does not make it right, but it is a fact of history that everyone knows, but many will not accept. We must forgive what our ancestors of both races did and look to the future and how we can make things better for everyone. We must remember that not one of us alive today owned slaves. If it had not been for slaves and their hard work could we have developed the United States into a world power as quickly as we did? I do not think it would have been possible, so we should look to the contribution that was made by the Black slaves in developing our Nation as well as the bad part of slavery.

There are many among us that want to forget the Civil War and anything that reminds them of those dark stains in the history of the United States. I disagree and feel that we should remember the Civil War every day that goes by. It was the most costly war the United States has ever fought in loss of lives, money, and total devastation to our country. Five Hundred Thousand United States Citizens died and another Five Hundred Thousand were wounded. The world will never know what great accomplishments might have been made by some of these individuals if they had lived. Out of the ashes of those dark times came a great country, united in a common bond, to become the strongest and richest country on earth. The people of this great nation united to rebuild what was left of a devastated nation into the greatest world power ever known. It has taught us a lesson that I hope we never forget “A country divided cannot stand”. This war was fought over States Rights and the freedom to choose how to run your own state, and did an individual state have the right to withdraw into a separate country. If all State Rights are taken away, then very shortly personal rights and freedoms are taken away, and we all become slaves to a dictator, regardless of color. Freedom must never be taken away. We must remember the lessons learned from this War and look forward to the future, forget our animosities toward one another about the past, and continue to make this country a better place to live. We cannot accomplish this goal unless we Remember The Civil War and its HORRORS. We must not let History repeat itself.

I want to preserve the Chambliss involvement in the War for future generations. I have tried to gather all the Chambliss names that served in the Civil War and what happened to them into one manual. I do not know how many of them relate to my individual line, but I know the Chambliss Family has been very patriotic and the Chambliss Name has been in every War that the United States has been involved in. This is the most up to date list I have, but I will continue to update as my research continues.

Written by Leland Chambliss

CHAMBLISS’ of the CIVIL WAR 1861 – 1865

JOHN RANDOLPH CHAMBLISS – Brigadier General – 13th Calvary Regiment of Virginia. Born: 1-23-1833 in Hickford, Greeneville, Co., Virginia. Son of John Randolph Chambliss Sr. and Sarah John Rives Blow. Graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1853. Married Emmelene Turner and had seven children. Enlisted on July 12, 1861 as a Colonel and promoted to General in 1864. After his death many kind words were spoken about him, from both the South and the North. The New York Herald of August 19, 1864, recorded that he was “a man of superior education, warm domestic and social affections, exquisite manners, temperaments, and taste…{who} through his whole career manifested a high sense of honor, moral rectitude, and Christian obligations.” General Robert E. Lee lamented to General Wade Hampton that Chambliss “fall will be felt throughout the Army, in which by his courage, energy, and skill, he had won for himself an honorable name. KILLED at Charles City Road Virginia on August 16, 1864. Source: ( The Virginia Regimental Series ) Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861 – 1865 Vol. III pages 329 – 330 and the Confederate Patriot Index 1924 –1978 Vol II Tennessee Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy.

ZACHARIAH H. CHAMBLISS – 1st Lieutenant – K Company 53rd Infantry Regiment Georgia. Enlisted March 18, 1861 as a Private in Ramsey’s Co. K 1st Regiment – Georgia Infantry, appointed 1st Sergeant on January 20, 1862. He was mustered out at Augusta, Georgia on March 18, 1863. He rejoined the 53rd as a 2nd lieutenant on May 6, 1862 and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on July 9, 1863. Son of John M. Chambliss and Elizabeth Jordon. Born March 9, 1835 in Forsyth, Monroe County, Georgia. KILLED at Wilderness, Virginia on May 6, 1864. Source: ( Roster Confederate Soldiers Georgia 1861 – 1865 ), Muster Roll Co. K 1st Regiment (Ramsey’s) Ga. Volunteer Infantry, Personal Research.

APPLEGATE CHAMBLESS – Private – K Company 2nd Calvary Regiment New Jersey. UNION ARMY Enlisted August 25, 1863. KILLED at Egypt Station, Mississippi on December 8, 1864. Source: ( Regiments of Officers and Enlisted Men of New Jersey in the Civil War 1861 – 1865 )

GEORGE C. CHAMBLESS – 28th Alabama Regiment – Enlisted in Jefferson County, Alabama on November 1, 1863. WOUNDED in battle on November 23, 1863 at Missionary Ridge. Recovered and was on Muster roll on May 3, 1864. Died in Arkansas. SOURCE: Heritage Books, Inc, and Records of 28th Alabama Regiment.

THOMAS E. CHAMBLISS – Private - 9th Infantry 2nd Co. A Virginia. Enlisted September 23, 1863 in Brunswick County, Virginia. He was WOUNDED in the upper arm on May 10, 1864 near Chester Station. He was hospitalized on May 11 until June 9, 1864 at Chimborazo Hospital, then furloughed. He was back in the hospital on August 5, 1864. Son of Thomas Adkinson Chambliss and Evelina B. Smith. Married: Catherine Bolling. Source: Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861 – 1865 Vol. III pages 329 – 330 and Civil War Soldiers of Brunswick County, Virginia, and The Virginia Regimental History Series, 1st edition. H. E. Howard Inc.

WILLIAM PARHAM CHAMBLISS – Major –UNION ARMY. 2nd Lt. Mounted Volunteers 5-23-1846 to 5-23-1847, Captain 3rd Tennesse Volunteers 10-7-1847 to 7-24-1848 during the Mexican War, 1st Lt 2nd Calvary 3-3-1855, Captain 4-6-1861 5th Calvary, Major 4th Calvary 3-3-1864. Brevet Major 5-4-1862 for gallant and meritorious service in action at Warrick’s Creek, Va. Brevet Lt. Col. 6-28-1862 for gallant and meritorious service at the battle of Gaines Mills, Va. During the battle of Gaines Mill, he was WOUNDED in several places and lay on the battlefield for four days and then taken to Libby prison in Richmond, Virginia. These wounds partially disabled him for the rest of his life. After his release from Libby Prison he underwent treatment at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York. He then served as instructor of calvary at the United States Military Academy from October of 1862 until June 1864. He was made special inspector of Calvary of the Mississippi in August 1864 until April of 1865. He then served with his regiment in Texas until he retired on November 1, 1867 and became president and general manager of the Cobourg Railway and Mining Company in Canada. Son of William and Sarah Parham Chambliss Born: March 20, 1864 in Bedford Co., VA. Died: February 22, 1887. Source: List of Officers of U. S. Army 1779 – 1900. Compiled by Col Wm. H. Powell, U. S. Army – L.R. Hamersly & Co. Pub. And Encyclopedia of Prominent Persons of Virginia Biography by Lysa Gardner Tyler.

WALTER BLOW CHAMBLISS – 1st Lieutenant – Gen. & Staff – ADC to Gen John Virginia Military Institute and was an aide to his brother. He was the son of John Randolph and Sarah Rives Blow Chambliss Sr. Married: Jenny C. Spradley December 21, 1869 in Greeneville Co., Virginia. Died: In 1885. Source: Virginia Civil War Records

BASTROP ADVERTISER - March 28, 1891 -
Their bodies left on the ground, stark and cold in death. Again it becomes the duty of the ADVERTISER as a faithful chronicler of passing events, to record one of those dark and bloody crimes which so retard the progress of civilization, blot the fair name and blast the prosperity of a country, causing the good and the bravest citizen to tremble with fear and awe. While quietly riding along the road, in the enjoyment of strong and vigorous health, and seemingly with a bright future before them, Robert L. Jenkins and his father-in-law Henry F. Chambliss, are brutally shot to death by bloody assassins, from ambush, their heads and bodies riddled with bullets.--------Nothing in the buggy was interfered with, the money, $1000.00 in gold and currency was found intact. Mr. Chambliss being a member in good standing of the Masonic Lodge at Red Rock, by request of the W.M., of that lodge, his remains were taken charge of by Gamble Lodge, and given Masonic burial, a large membership participated in the solemn ceremonies. The religious services were impressively conducted by Rev. W. Wooton.

JOEL ANDREW CHAMBLISS – 4th (Russell’s) Calvary Co. H Alabama Regiment. Born in 1830. Son of Henry Chambliss and Sarah Huckaby. Married: Samantha Elvira Mahan November 4, 1858 in Alabama. Died in Mississippi in 1865 from measles while on the way home after the war ended. Sources: Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861 – 1865 Vol. III, pgs 329 – 330, Muster Roll of Russell’s Co H 4th Alabama Calvary, and Family Research of Henry Chambliss by Sandra Weaver.

BENJAMIN F. CHAMBLISS Dr. – Private – Company A 14th Regiment Georgia. Enlisted on March 4, 1862. Appointed Hospital Steward of the Medical Dept. C. S. A., November 6, 1863. At home on sick furlough February 13, 1864. No later record. Son of William Chambliss and Polly Huckaby. Source: Muster Roll of Company A, 14th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry Army of Northern Virginia C. S. A. Monroe County, Georgia "Confederate Volunteers"

JOHN ALEXANDER CHAMBLISS – Chaplain for the Confederacy in South Carolina. Born: August 30, 1840 in Athens, Georgia. Died: 1917. Son of Alexander Wildes Chambliss and Rebecca Ellerbe. Married: Mary Crayton Mauldin on August 8, 1861. Source: “History of Georgia Baptists with Biographical Compendum” compiled for the Christian Index.
Reproduced from 1881 edition in the Baptist Historical Collection – Furman University Library, Greenville, South Carolina.

ELDRIDGE E. CHAMBLISS – Private -12th Infantry Co. I Virginia Enlisted on February 22, 1862 at Hicksford Virginia. He was absent because of sickness on from April 1862 to September 1863 due to recurring fever, and rheumatism. He was in Chester Hospital from January to March of 1863, effects of bad vaccinations. Son of John C. and Tilly Woodruff Chambliss. Married: Elizabeth Rebecca Ann Evans. Died: 1894. Source: Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861 – 1865 Vol. III pages 329 – 330 and the Virginia Regimental History Series 2nd addition – H. E. Howard Inc..

EPHRIAM CHAMBLISS – Private - 24th Calvary Co. K Texas. Born in Mississippi about 1837. Son of William Henry Chambliss and Millie Mae Parrish. Married: Kitsy Tolar on January 24, 1861 in Tyler Co., Texas. Died: April 22, 1920 in Woodville, Tyler County, Texas. His place of burial is unknown, a notation on his papers states he did not have a regular funeral, buried by his neighbors. Pension Application # 25400. Source: Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861 – 1865 Vol. III pages 329 – 330

MASTEN E. CHAMBLESS – Private – 5th Alabama Regiment from 1861 to 1865 when it disbanded. Born: February 4, 1836. Died: November 10, 1910 in Fayette County, Alabama. Son of Aaron Chambliss and Mary Mason. Married: Married Mary Wimbreth Harrison. Source: Census of Confederate Soldiers in the Civil War, on file in Fayette County Court House, Fayette, Alabama.

NATHANIAL R. CHAMBLISS – Major – S Company 1st Calvary Regiment of Kentucky. He was the Commander of Selma, Alabama Arsenal from October 1862 until March of 1863, and Commander of the Charleston, South Carolina Arsenal from December 10, 1863 until sometime in 1864. Died: March 7, 1897. Source: (Confederate Kentucky Volunteers War 1861 – 1865 ) and National Archives and Records Administration – The Confederacy.

WILLIAM LAWSON CHAMBLISS – Private – Enlisted in Co K 1st Regiment (Ramsey's) on June 4, 1861 and mustered out on March 18, 1862. Enlisted in A Company 32nd Regiment Georgia on May 5, 1862. Born Jan. 4, 1840. Son of Lawson Green Chambliss and Martha Elizabeth Russell. Married: Millie Harrison. Surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina on April 26, 1865. Died In Monroe County Georgia on May 9, 1911. Buried at Juliette Methodist Cemetery in Jones Co., Georgia. Source: ( Roster Confederate Soldiers Georgia 1861 – 1865 )
and Muster Roll of Co. K 1st Regiment (Ramsey's) Ga Volunteer Infantry.

WILLIAM RUTLEDGE CHAMBLISS – Adj. 25th Louisiana Infantry F & S. He was appointed Adj on March 22, 1862. On September 12, 1864 he became Captain of Calvary in Trans. Mississippi Dept. Born December 26, 1840. Died: February 13, 1913. Son of Samuel Lee Chambliss and Jane Truett Scott. Sarah Garrett. Source: (Louisiana Confederate Soldiers)

JOHN CHAMBLISS – Private/Teamster – 9th Texas Infantry Co. A. Mustered in January 4, 1862 at Paris, Texas. Detached as Brigade Teamster on May 5, 1862, present in July to October, 1862. Sick at Brownsville, Ga. 8/27/62-roll of September/October, 1862. Present January/June, 1863; present 4/5/1864; POW near Nashville, TN. On December 15, 1864, received at Louisville, KY on January 2, 1865; received at Camp Chase, OH on January 6, 1865. In Camp Chase Hospital (erisypelas), January, 30 – February 4, 1865. Enlisted in U.S. Army on March 20, 1865 and transferred to Chicago. Source: Compiled Service Records of the 9th Texas Infantry on microfilm at the National Archives.

THEORERICK CHAMBLISS – Private – I Co. 17th Calvary Regiment of Kentucky UNION ARMY. Son of John Graves Chambliss and Celia Jane Mabry Cain. Married: Clarissa Jane Drennon on June 3, 1848 in Hardemon County, Tennessee. Died in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Enlisted September 1, 1864. Source: (Report of Adjutant General State of Kentucky)

JAMES MASTERSON CHAMBLISS – Private – Co. F 3rd Georgia Reserve – The records of the “Great Prison” in Andersonville, Georgia show him as a prison guard in 1864. Buried on the “Old Phillips Place” near Sargent, Texas. Source: Catherine Ryan descendent of James

J. CHAMBLISS - Sergeant Asst Surgeon - Co. S HF & S 3rd Louisiana Infantry. Enlisted May 17, 1861 at New Orleans, La. Present on rolls to June 30, 1861. Roll for July and August 1861, Present. Appointed Asst., July…Orderly Sergt. from May 21 to July 1. Roll for November and December absent on furlough. Resigned his position as Acting Surgeon November 30, 1861 and appointed Assistant Surgeon. Source: (Louisiana Confederate Soldiers)